libya's become a battle between president obama and republican senator john mccain. who insisted again today the administration knew quickly that al qaeda had attacked. >> for the president of the united states for two weeks afterwards to deny that that was the case, is either a cover-up or it is incompetence. >> reporter: susan rice denied it. infuriating republicans. acting cia director mike morrell on the hill today briefed some lawmakers on libya. one, a democrat said the account backed rice. that u.s. intelligence did give her the incorrect account that she passed on. >> that this was a spontaneous protest that evolved into something militant. that was the best information. they said they had at the time. >> reporter: there had been earlier attacks in benghazi. house republicans hammered the administration reaction. >> the people back at state here in washington continued to deny additional security. and they continued to do away with security that was already there. >> reporter: democrats pushed back. >> to lay this at the doorstep of the president, or the secr